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Thursday, January 25, 2018 | Vol. XCIII, Issue 3 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

SHADES' decline addressed during town hall meeting Club faces attendance, organizational issues Yuri Lee News Intern

Chukwudi Kanu remembers going to SHADES events as a freshman and seeing an open, social community with vibrant events. Now, Kanu is a senior, and SHADES doesn’t have the same gatherings. A decline in the club’s prominence inspired it to hold a town hall meeting on Monday night, where four of the club’s executive board members faced a crowd of roughly 50 people to discuss the organization’s current state and future plans. SHADES formed in 2011 to help empower students of color and the LGBTQ community

and to create a safe space for them. At first, the club saw good attendance, but has recently struggled with maintaining membership, finding students to lead the club and getting space to host meetings. For many attendees, the state of SHADES has been a wake-up call. Kanu, who is majoring in systems science and industrial engineering, said he didn’t expect SHADES’ situation to be so bad. “For an organization like this to get into this type of situation, it’s honestly ‘wow’ to me because they supported a base that actually needs that help, needs that support,” Kanu said. “So it’s a red flag already that they need that support.” Glenn Avisado, the Student Association executive

SEE SHADES PAGE 2

Courtney Mitchell/Staff Photographer The SHADES E-Board leads a town hall discussion on the club’s future. The high number of LGBTQ and multicultural groups at BU is partially responsible for SHADES’ decline.

How future shutdowns could affect BU $25K gift Government closure would hinder federal grants

federal research grants, on which many professors rely to support their studies, to employ research assistants and keep their labs running. Kevin Boettcher, the research development specialist for Hannah Walter Pipe Dream News Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, said that when the government shuts down, The federal government reopened so do two of the largest federal grantMonday following a 69-hour shutdown, givers, the National Institutes of Health but the impacts of a future shutdown and the National Science Foundation. could have effects on the Binghamton “Between the two of them, they are University campus. responsible for several million dollars A long-term shutdown could affect of funding that comes to University

researchers here at Binghamton,” Boettcher said. In 2017, BU received $11.2 million from the National Science Foundation in funding for research in fields such as cybersecurity, archeology, chemistry and political science. The University obtained more grant money than most SUNY schools, with only University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University receiving more. As a whole, SUNY received over $87 million from 306 grants last year.

If researchers are working directly with a federal agency like the Environmental Protection Agency or NASA, the impasse could also burden their progress since they might not be able to contact research partners. “Say a professor is working for someone at the Centers for Disease Control,” Boettcher said. “That can really slow down any collaborative work that people might be doing.”

SEE FUNDS PAGE 2

Anonymous donation creates summer program

University offers tuition insurance

Orla McCaffrey News Editor

Protection available for students who withdraw

company can help you,” Kirwan said. “We have no horse in the race here — this is really just to provide you with something extra that you can pay for.” Qiana Watson, a case management coordinator in the BU Dean of Students Office, said 176 students withdrew from the University last year due to medical

When Binghamton University’s new Health Sciences Campus for the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) opens this summer, five students will already be working on research projects in pharmacy practice and biomedical research. A $25,000 anonymous donation that BU received last month will fund 10-week summer internships for undergraduates in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences and doctor of pharmacy students in SOPPS. According to Eric Hoffman, associate dean for research of SOPPS, the internships serve the pharmacy school’s research focus. “A summer research internship provides an approach to transferring the passion and interest to the next generation,” Hoffman wrote in an email. The $5,000 stipends provided to students can be used for research costs as well as living expenses incurred by researchers. Students will find Harpur College and SOPPS faculty to oversee their projects and serve as mentors. The donation was earmarked for SOPPS and Harpur College students, and came from a BU alumnus described as an accomplished scientist and entrepreneur. The donor’s own experiences influenced the program’s focus. “His interests were in biomedical research and drug development, and he asked that the funds be used for both [Harpur College] undergrads and SOPPS [doctor of pharmacy] students,” Hoffman wrote. The fund will be exhausted after

SEE TUITION PAGE 4

SEE GIFT PAGE 2

Gillian Kenah News Intern

Getting sick, struggling academically and facing mental health issues are all reasons that students might choose to withdraw from a semester. If they did so after the fourth week of classes, none of their tuition would’ve been refunded. In the past, these students may have been unable to receive a refund on their tuition. Now, Binghamton University is offering tuition insurance that can help them recoup the costs of tuition, as well as the costs of room and board. At the start of this academic year, BU partnered with GradGuard, a tuition protection plan from Allianz insurance company, which offers insurance to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students who pay a fee by the first day of each semester will be refunded their tuition, room and board and other fees if they need to withdraw. More than 100 colleges and universities across the nation have partnered with GradGuard, including all of SUNY’s university centers. The company offers three plans that cost between $100 and $200 per semester. Different plans offer different levels of protection, from partial to full tuition recovery. The Preferred Plan, which refunds up to 100 percent of tuition, fees and room and board in cases of illness, injury or death and up to 80 percent of tuition for students facing mental health challenges, is the company’s most popular option.

Courtney Mitchell/Staff Photographer At the start of this academic year, BU partnered with GradGuard, a tuition protection plan from Allianz insurance company, which offers insurance to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Students without insurance will be charged tuition and fees if they withdraw for any reason following the fourth week of the semester. In fall 2017, 48 students signed up and 41 have signed up for spring 2018. Coverage isn’t available for summer and winter sessions because of their short length. Susan Kirwan, director of student accounts, said BU chose to partner with

ARTS & CULTURE

GradGuard after viewing its presentation at a National Association of College and University Business Officers conference in August 2017. According to Kirwan, many students withdraw each semester due to unforeseeable circumstances, including mental health issues, which factored into the University’s decision to offer the insurance. “The University is really just saying this

to finance pharmacy research

OPINIONS

SPORTS

Late Nite to bring kink to campus with Sexapalooza,

Check out our editors’ picks for this year’s best picture,

Contributing columnist Jessica Gutowitz discusses the intersection of comedy and politics,

Men’s basketball falls to UMBC in Baltimore,

Women’s basketball overpowers the Retrievers at home,

See page 6

See page 7

See page 5

See page 10

NEWS

bupipedream.com | January 25, 2018

Govt closure may shut down grants Anonymous FUNDS FROM PAGE 1 Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos authored a memo to her department last Thursday, which sent home 90 percent of its staff during the shutdown, to address the various ways in which the education system may be affected. According to DeVos, a shutdown that lasts over one week could lead to a halt in federal funding for school districts, colleges and universities, as well as a disruption to grant programs housed under the Department of Education. “For example, many school districts receive more than 20 percent of their funds from Department-funded programs,” DeVos wrote. “In addition, citizens and institutions seeking specific information regarding the impact of a shutdown will have limited access to information.” According to the University’s Financial Aid Office, this weekend’s shutdown didn’t affect government loans for students. If there was a long-

term shutdown, it’s not clear how federal aid programs like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Pell Grants would be affected. Amber Stallman, the director of financial aid and student records at BU, declined to discuss the possible results of a shutdown. “I am not able to speculate on how a shutdown in the future could affect the processes associated with federal aid,” Stallman wrote in an email. Paul Parker, the associate vice president for research administration and the operations manager of the Research Foundation at BU, said a shutdown could influence the entire academic culture by disrupting the flow of resources and decreasing access to information necessary for research. “A shutdown would also impact federal libraries, museums and data archives, that are often depended on by faculty and students for their Provided by AP Exchange curriculum development and In 2017, Binghamton University received $11.2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation classwork,” Parker wrote in for research in fields such as cybersecurity, archeology, chemistry and political science. Only University an email. at Buffalo and Stony Brook University receiving more among SUNY schools.

donor to fund internships GIFT FROM PAGE 1 this summer, but there are plans to continue offering the program and increase the number of stipends available. “The goal is to give students at Binghamton additional opportunities to take advantage of, so that they can find and pursue their interests,” Hoffman wrote. “[The donor] feels that he owes much of his success to his time as a [Harpur College] undergrad. He wants to give back to Binghamton as he feels Binghamton gave to him.” These pharmacyfocused projects will

join the Harpur Fellows Program and the Summer Scholars and Artists Program, among others, as summer research opportunities for students. Currently, BU is one of two SUNY institutions that offers a pharmacy program. The school’s first cohort began classes this past fall, and students and faculty are set to move into the $60 million, 84,000-squarefoot pharmacy campus this summer. Applications for the internship are due Thursday, Feb. 1, and students must be enrolled full time in Harpur College or SOPPS.

SHADES faces competition from LGBTQ, cultural clubs SHADES FROM PAGE 1 vice president and a senior triple-majoring in business administration, political science and economics, said clubs that lack consistent memberships have trouble acquiring a budget and a meeting space. “For SHADES, if they’re not having that much membership, it makes it hard to justify getting a budget if they want one,” Avisado said. “If you’re only getting e-board plus two or three members, it’s kind of hard to say

that your club deserves to reserve this room when there’s this other club that also needs this space for all their members.” But for many of the people who attended the meeting, SHADES has a special and necessary existence that’s different from other clubs. Folake Oladele, a sophomore majoring in biology, said SHADES represents a safe haven for both people of color and for people in the LGBTQ community, both of whom are minorities on campus. “SHADES is very inclusive —

definitely a home away from home for anyone struggling with their identity,” Oladele said. “I feel like it’s very important that they stay here, always.” Despite the meeting’s specific focus on SHADES’ status, many attendees noted that the club’s current situation reflects a larger problem faced by many multicultural and LGBTQ clubs, including declining membership and greater competition among themselves. SHADES’ current situation can be partially attributed to its competition for membership

with other organizations like the Rainbow Pride Union (RPU) and the Q Center. RPU, which formed in 1971, also aims to provide a safe haven for the LGBTQ community on campus, and the Q Center, which opened on campus in fall 2016, provides more resources and support for the LGBTQ community. Kelly Clark, the director of the Q Center, wasn’t immediately available to comment on SHADES or the town hall. According to Bianca Amanini, the multicultural affairs vice

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president of Broome Hall of Newing College and a sophomore majoring in psychology, the lack of unity within the LGBTQ community closely resembles that of the multicultural community. Amanini said she didn’t want to see the LGBTQ clubs become competitive and divided like the cultural clubs. “We’re all supposed to be unified,” Amanini said. Participants at the town hall proposed greater collaboration and empowerment between clubs. Kalissa Sawyer, the acting vice

president of SHADES, president of the Latin American Student Union and a senior majoring in human development, said collaboration with other clubs may be the key to reaffirming SHADES’ future. “I’m optimistic about collaboration and hopefully getting consistent support,” Sawyer said. “All those who are on e-board now, we definitely want to see SHADES prosper and become even bigger than it is now. We’re all going to keep the pressure on, even if, worst comes to worst, we have to do it alone.”

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O PINIONS FFUN PAGE UN III Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October January October April 3,25, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2018 2017

aDDress: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 phone: 607-777-2515 fax: 607-777-2600 web: bupipedream.com

Faces of democracy

Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS Binghamton man punches Walmart employee In the midst of attempting to shoplift from Walmart in Johnson City, a Binghamton area man punched an employee, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Davon Dozier-Gannaway, 20, was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary. A Walmart employee had confronted Dozier-Gannaway, leading to an altercation. A small area of the store was inaccessible to customers for a period of time during the initial police response, but is now open. Mayor Rich David meets with President Trump at biannual conference Binghamton Mayor Rich David met President Donald Trump on Wednesday as a part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ biannual meeting, according to the Press

Spring 2018 eDitor-in-Chief* Noah Bressner editor@bupipedream.com

& Sun-Bulletin. David was one of approximately 100 mayors to attend the meeting, which focused on the opioid epidemic, infrastructure and the economy. David, a Republican, attended the Freedom Ball, one of the balls held in Washington, D.C. last year in honor of Trump’s inauguration.

Managing eDitor* Shauna R. Bahssin manager@bupipedream.com

news eDitor* Orla McCaffrey news@bupipedream.com asst. news eDitors Amy Donovan Jillian Forstadt Sasha Hupka

STATE NEWS

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New York City joins municipalities in lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies On Tuesday, New York City joined hundreds of other municipalities in New York, including Broome County, in suing the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers and distributors, including Purdue Pharma and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. More than 200 lawsuits against drug companies have been put forth by local communities throughout the country. New York City’s lawsuit seeks to recover roughly $500 million in current and future costs the city states it will need to combat the epidemic.

This Day in History Jan. 25, 1915

Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson inaugurate the U.S. transcontinental telephone service with a telephone transmission from New York to San Francisco.

“I’ve just signed your death warrant.” Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said on Wednesday, after sentencing Larry Nassar, former USA Olympic gymnastics team physician, to 40 to 175 years in a Michigan state prison.

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Jacob Hanna/Staff Photographer Democracy Matters E-Board members recruited members at their spring general interest meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 23. From left: Bryce Lawson, secretary; Jacob Chank, vice president; Sean O’Brien, treasurer; Winter Clark, president; and Larry Wu, intern.

Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Drinking in plain sight SATURDAY, Jan. 20, midnight — An officer was passing Windham Hall of Mountainview College when she noticed three females standing near the entrance to the building. One of the females appeared to be holding a container wrapped in a plastic bag. As the officer drove by, she saw the female lower the bag to hide it. By the time the officer had parked the patrol car, the female had disappeared. As the officer was approaching the building, the female reappeared, with another bottle in a plastic bag. The officer asked the female what she had in her hand, and she showed the officer a Snapple bottle. The officer asked the female what she had done with the other bag, and she admitted she had put it in her room. She said she had been drinking a can of Four Loko. The officer confiscated the can, which was still almost full, and gave the female a warning about open container laws and underage drinking. Suspended driver drifts between lanes SATURDAY, Jan. 20, 1:58 a.m. — An officer observed a vehicle fail to maintain its lane while driving in the traffic circle on Glenn G. Bartle Drive, and performed a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, a 19-year-old male, gave the officer his registration and driver’s license. When the officer checked his license, he discovered it had been suspended because of an insurance lapse. The driver found another person to take his vehicle home, and was given two

Sasha Hupka Assistant News Editor

tickets — one for failing to maintain his lane and another for driving with a suspended license. Sitting at the bar SATURDAY, Jan. 20, 2:30 a.m. — A student approached an officer as he was getting into his vehicle near Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center and asked the officer to explain how Harpur’s Ferry ambulance service works. The officer asked the student if he needed help, and he said his friend, who was visiting campus, had been drinking in Downtown Binghamton and was very intoxicated. The officer was led to a 19-year-old male. The male told the officer he believed he was still Downtown and waiting at the bar to get a drink. The officer explained that the male was on campus and contacted Harpur’s Ferry. After an evaluation, Harpur’s Ferry determined the male did not need to be transported to the hospital. Pen and paper SATURDAY, Jan. 20, 9:30 p.m. — A 19-year-old female contacted police after witnessing a vehicle reverse into another car in Parking Lot L. The female said the vehicle, a blue Toyota sedan, drove away without leaving a note. The other car had damage to its tow hitch and rear bumper. The female gave officers a description of the driver and a license plate number. Officers found the owner of the sedan, a 19-year-old male, and contacted him. The male admitted that he was involved in the accident, but said he didn’t realize there was damage to the other vehicle and did not have a pen and paper to leave a note. He was given a ticket for leaving the scene of an accident.

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Design Manager* Cory Bremer design@bupipedream.com Design assts. Khaled Pendleton Goaming Lyu Copy Desk Chief* Bridget McCusker copy@bupipedream.com asst. Copy Desk Chief Sarah Molano Digital eDitor Alana B. Epstein digital@bupipedream.com newsrooM teChnology Manager* Henry Zheng tech@bupipedream.com asst. newsrooM teCh. Manager Michelle Tan eDitorial artist Jorden James business Manager* Andrew Genussa business@bupipedream.com asst. business Manager Maryam Soomro businessassistant@bupipedream.com Distribution Manager Elisabeth Standard distribution@bupipedream.com Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. Positions seated on the executive board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Mondays and Thursdays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and academic breaks. The content on the Opinions page with bylines represent the views of those authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. The content of advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. We reserve the right to reject ads for any reason. All letters submitted for publication must include the author's name, year and major. Please limit letters to the editor to 400 words and guest columns to 750 words. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Guest column submissions may be emailed to the opinions editor at opinions@bupipedream.com, and all letters to the editor may be sent to editor@bupipedream.com.

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NEWS

bupipedream.com | January 25, 2018

Online petition challenges Student Conduct sanctions Punishment reduced upon second review Jillian Forstadt Assistant News Editor

When Jason Balogun received his sanctions for violating the Binghamton University Code of Student Conduct in January, he said he needed a way to get his side of the story out, publishing a petition on Change.org. More than 615 signatures and an appeal later, his sanctions have been reduced. Balogun, a sophomore majoring in computer science, was charged after Binghamton’s New York State University Police entered Balogun’s room in Bingham Hall of Newing College on Nov. 10 with a warrant to search the dorm and arrest his roommate, who had been selling marijuana and other drugs.

He was found with marijuana residue on related paraphernalia, and was later charged with possession of the drug. Through messages on his roommate’s phone, officers learned that Balogun had assisted in distributing these drugs on two occasions. Balogun said he was pressured into doing so and never received any payment or reward. “He’d send me a lot of text messages about it while it happened,” Balogun said. “I just really wanted to be left alone … I just wanted to get it over with and have that out of my way.” The fourth rule of the BU 2016-17 Code of Student Conduct sanction guidelines states the distribution or sale of a small quantity of marijuana can result in a one- to four-semester suspension, with final probation until graduation, removal from

University housing and loss of visitation to all on-campus residences. The punishment for possession is much less severe: a one-year disciplinary warning and educational intervention. In his initial administrative agreement from the Office of Student Conduct, Balogun was told he could either accept a four-semester suspension or permanent withdrawal from the University, which would be listed on his transcript as suspension until 2019. According to the Code of Student Conduct, the Office of Student Conduct takes into account the amount and nature of the drugs involved, level of knowledge and the intent of the student and delivery or attempted delivery of the drug in deciding the severity of sanctions. Balogun said he and his family

thought the circumstances of the case did not fit the sanctions laid out in the initial agreement. By signing an agreement, students admit responsibility and accept the outlined sanctions, which can’t be appealed once signed. Balogun decided not to accept the original sanctions and published the petition while his case was forwarded for a second review by a Student Conduct Board. “We believe that this student willingly did nothing more than temporarily possess marijuana, a mistake to which the student has admitted to,” Balogun’s petition read. “Expulsion is something that damages a student’s future, and a four-semester suspension is also capable of doing so.” Jazell Johnson, associate director of Student Conduct, could not comment on Balogun’s case, but did write that if a student is appealing a decision by the Student Conduct Board, the student is forwarded any petitions the office receives. The student holds the decision to present the petition as a part of their appeal or not. “In general, in a hearing and in an appeal, a student has an opportunity to present information

they feel is relevant to the decision regarding finding (responsible or not responsible) and sanction,” Johnson wrote in an email. “If the accused student would like these types of issues considered, they can present them.” Balogun said he was inspired to start a petition after he had seen students in similar circumstances do the same. The petition was addressed to both Johnson and the Office of Student Conduct. As of Jan. 24, the petition had 639 signatures. Some of Balogun’s friends took to platforms such as Facebook to share the petition, attesting to Balogun’s innocence. “[Balogun] is the kind of kid that never wants to make anyone uncomfortable,” said Sam Belkin, a sophomore majoring in business administration. Balogun also looked for advice from SA Advocates, a group of trained students designed to guide their peers through all parts of the conduct process with the goal of achieving a fair resolution for students accused of a conduct violation. Allison Romer, a junior doublemajoring in environmental studies and philosophy, politics and law, serves as the director of

SA Advocates. While she has only handled one case with a petition so far, she says online petitions help inform students of the conduct process and its relevance to the student body. “I believe there is power in numbers,” Romer wrote in an email. “Even if a petition doesn’t have a direct impact on the outcome of a particular case, it demonstrates that students are paying attention to what is happening to their peers as individuals but also for the university as a whole. On Jan. 16, after the board reviewed Balogun’s case along with the petition, Student Conduct offered him the choice between a one-year suspension or a onesemester suspension with his fall 2017 grades expunged from his transcript. Balogun chose the latter. While he said that he doesn’t think that the Student Conduct process was fair overall, Balogun did say writing a petition was a worthwhile addition to the process. “Spreading of the petition was definitely a morale booster for me, in terms of seeing all those people sign it and having that many people confirm to be behind me in my cause,” Balogun said.

Mia Katz/Contributing Photographer The BU Office of Student Conduct, located on the third floor of Tuscarora Office Building in College-in-the-Woods, is home to the Student Conduct Board, which reviews cases of Code of Student Conduct violations. Jason Balogun, a sophomore majoring in computer science, petitioned the office after receiving his initial sanctions.

BU offers fee insurance TUITION FROM PAGE 1 reasons, and that there are about 150 to 200 medical withdrawals per year. According to Kirwan, GradGuard is one of the few tuition insurance providers that offers voluntary sign-up for this program rather than an opt-out system, in which students are automatically billed for the coverage. “The other company required us to do an opt-out program, which meant we’d have to charge every student and the student would have remove it, and I don’t like those

things,” Kirwan said. “You have to pay attention, and for something that can only cost $99 you might just think it’s another fee on your bill.” According to a GradGuard spokesman, students whose universities don’t offer tuition insurance for coverage will pay a higher fee than students at partner schools. Ian Foley, a sophomore double-majoring in biology and economics, said he doesn’t plan to buy the insurance, but sees it as a reliable option for others. “I personally wouldn’t consider

buying it,” Foley said. “But I think that it’s a great idea for those that feel they would need it.” Emma Northrup, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering, said the insurance might help relieve some financial burden on students and their families. “Paying for health care after an unexpected injury or illness is very costly, especially on top of paying for school,” Northrup said. “So knowing that the insurance program can help with that will definitely ease the financial stress felt in those medical situations.”

OPINIONS FFUN UN Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October January October April 3,25, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2018 2017

Acknowledging both sides of #MeToo

Despite its criticisms, the movement has a positive impact Hannah Gulko

Contributing Columnist

Jorden James/Editorial Artist

DELIVERING THE MESSAGE

Binghamton University has numerous ways of sending information to students — whether via text, email or phone, those methods of communication should cover all the bases. However, in the wake of multiple incidents that occurred both on and off campus last semester, the University could have done a better job notifying students. The Editorial Board believes that the University’s methods of notifying students of potentially dangerous situations can be improved. One of the most important points of communication that must be improved is the University’s B-Alert system, which can send texts and email, and is powered by Rave Mobile Safety. It’s touted as the main way to inform students of emergencies, but only onethird of students are signed up for text messages, and students must sign up. These alerts can’t effectively reach the student body when only a small portion of students are registered for the service. The University has considered switching from the current opt-in system to a mandatory program in which students who don’t want alerts would have to opt out, but a timeline for its implementation

has yet to be set. We urge all relevant actors to continue to make this a priority, so as many students as possible are notified in emergency situations. The time delay between incidents and alerts has come under criticism, to which the University has asserted the importance of verifying what has actually occurred. While we appreciate the dedication to accuracy, we believe that multiple reports of a dangerous incident, for example, should be enough for an alert to go out, warning students to avoid a certain location. The Editorial Board believes that students have a right to know about any potentially dangerous situation in a timely manner, even if UPD does not have access to all of the information. The important takeaway for students in the robbery incident in Smith Hall of Hinman College was simply that there had been reports of a robbery; we didn’t need all the details of the case. We need to know the necessary information

about an incident as soon as the University knows — we need to be able to keep ourselves safe. Although UPD’s concern with sending out the correct information is valid, the delay is not justifiable in dangerous situations that students need to be aware of immediately. Additionally, the discrepancy between reporting on-campus incidents and offcampus incidents must be cleared up. When a BU student was assaulted in late August outside of Twin River Commons, a student housing complex in Downtown Binghamton, and when two BU students were involved in a stabbing at The Rathskeller Pub in September, the University did not issue statements until days later and many hours later, respectively. BU is unique among other universities because a large number of our students are in the Downtown area at any given time, especially on the weekends. The city of Binghamton and the University’s campus should not be treated as two separate

entities when it comes to communicating emergency messages — students frequently travel back and forth between Vestal and Downtown, and we must be immediately made aware of any incidents that occur Downtown as well. UPD and the Binghamton Police Department should work closely together to ensure that these kinds of messages are relayed in a timely manner. The Editorial Board acknowledges that the University makes a strong effort to alert students of any possible danger. However, receiving urgent text messages about water main breaks, yet only simple emails about assaults that occurred Downtown, is unacceptable. There needs to be a more concrete definition of what is considered an emergency, and there needs to be more of an effort to report these things in a timely manner. Delivering the message efficiently should be the University’s top priority in order to protect our safety.

Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.

The brilliant — yet infuriating — duality of internet sensationalism is that it gives everyone the chance to have an opinion about everything. I’d argue that it’s partly justified — we pride ourselves in having a right to freedom of speech and access to uncensored information. But the counterargument stems from the fact that people give themselves the right to be blatantly rude, intentionally ignorant and proudly prejudiced, hiding behind their mask of perceived online anonymity. I bring this up in the context of the recently resurfaced #MeToo movement, a 2007-born movement originally created by activist Tarana Burke as a nonprofit organization for victims of sexual harassment and assault. Despite the obvious lack of intersectional support in the current phase of this social media wave, #MeToo has allowed thousands of victims to come forward about their personal experiences to try and show the world the magnitude of the problem. Here’s where the duality hits. On the surface, #MeToo is an earnest and effective social movement motivating women to speak out about harassment and abuse. It encouraged the public to scrutinize the systemic sexism within our culture, question the authority, privilege and prominence of renowned social figures and cultivate a sense of solidarity. Some people argue, however, that #MeToo is too perfect of a hashtag, harnessing social media’s mechanisms to drive users into escalating states of outrage. Outrage, unfortunately, is vital to the design of most social media platforms; it’s an emotion that inspires sharing, an increase in engagement and direct revenue to the companies managing these websites and apps. This underlying sentiment has spurred many people to comment on the idea that #MeToo is actually anti-

feminist, in that it is driven by a socalled hatred of men and is a danger to sexual freedom, encouraging offenders to provide defenses, giving them news coverage to question their intentions and taking the focus off of the women who’ve been hurt. Media spotlight that follows the faces of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and President Donald Trump continuously gives significantly less time to the women who are trying to spread the actual message. Even bad publicity is publicity — the action in itself, the ability to spread the word is the real intention in the end. Thus, when people challenge the integrity of #MeToo, I question the validity of their argument. To me, the point is clear: Women are angry about the lack of attention paid to an increasingly prevalent issue in workplaces, personal environments and public spaces. The media is a fickle friend — it’ll follow the men and wrongly romanticize the role a “victim” plays, but nevertheless, harassment and violence are now two of the most talked about issues. Consent and respect are widely addressed, recognized and sought for. In the wake of the recent Women’s Marches this past Saturday, morale is wonderfully high. Feminists everywhere are riding a wave of empowerment, ready to start 2018 headstrong — unapologetically loud, proud and ready to fight. #MeToo played an incredible part in igniting this year’s activism, and I hope that it continues to incentivize the war against the normalized standards for sexism within our culture. I hope every woman continues to fight and has an equally smart partner, mother, father, child and neighbor changing the world for a more kind, respectful and honorable future generation. And I hope that if anything, women know that they’re not alone. This is a fight, there is an army and you bet we’re ready to end this mess in the way women know best — through integrity, strength and glorious, true power. — Hannah Gulko is a sophomore majoring in human development.

In defense of the intersection of comedy and politics

Late-night comedians should continue to use their platforms for activism Jessica Gutowitz

Contributing Columnist

If you have a spare moment in the evening and think to tune into one of the many late-night TV programs for a study break and a moment to decompress, you might want to look elsewhere for a lighthearted laugh. More than ever before, comedy has expanded into the field of political analysis, often cracking jokes at the expense of Washington, D.C. Whether it’s Stephen Colbert of “The Late Show with Stephen

Colbert” giving his opening monologue on the latest White House scandal, or Alec Baldwin playing President Donald Trump himself in a “Saturday Night Live” skit, late-night comedians have honorably risked their own careers to extend the reach of the political discourse beyond the 5 o’clock news in a way that has had a positive impact on U.S. political discourse. As college students searching for an escape from our own anxiety bubble of course add/drop deadlines and 8:30 a.m. lectures, this reality can take away a mode of escapism. Anyone looking for a way to unwind after a stressful day would be unable to watch one of these

shows without coming away with a poor image of the state of the world, if agreeing with the general viewpoint, or becoming enraged by the obvious bias, if disagreeing. Late-night comedy is no longer the place to seek out a quick laugh, but a way to get educated about the world’s affairs in a lighthearted manner. Comedians like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers only use their platforms to advocate for something they believe in. Celebrity is a fickle thing, and there is something to be admired in those who put their careers on the line for a greater purpose. Now, I’m not saying that Jimmy Fallon’s jokes about Trump’s recent tweet in which

he released his objectively ridiculous “Fake News Awards” is deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize, but there’s a nobility in speaking up about what is wrong in the world, despite the risk of catching flak for it, and continuing to do so even while receiving criticism. Late-night comedy is intended to be a production for the masses. While news networks are certainly informative, they can be intimidating — especially when discussing in-depth economic policy or speaking to a guest political analyst. The average person doesn’t have the time to sit down with The New York Times or The Washington Post every morning over coffee.

Nighttime programming might catch someone’s eye more easily, especially since its take on the news is expected to be served up with a joke, not a headache. Anyone can flip the TV over to their preferred network or check out “Last Week Tonight” on YouTube for John Oliver’s latest update. People pay attention to comedy. It holds an appeal that ABC News just can’t match. Most importantly, comedians who talk about the news keep politics from taking itself too seriously. Politics used to be a thing only for wealthy noblemen and royalty. It was housed behind closed doors and kept from the citizenry. Comedy knocks politics down a peg —

everyone should know and be able to know everything they wish about our political system. The culture of political discourse in the United States is already one of elitism and gatekeeping, and our comedians are just trying to keep it from letting its loftiness launch it too far away for it to be accessible. We, as future Binghamton University graduates, have the same right to political knowledge as someone who didn’t make it past high school. Comedy is the great equalizer — it is something we can all understand. — Jessica Gutowitz is a freshman majoring in English.

Recognizing the impact of hyperbolic language Even words used in a weather report can elicit negative reactions in everyday life

Joshua Hummell

Contributing Columnist

I am fascinated by the weather, and sometimes I find myself obsessively watching the news to learn more about it. This winter, while watching the weather, I noticed something — the terms that are being used to describe the weather have changed. For example, it’s common in Syracuse to have lake-effect snow. In the case of Syracuse, this occurs when wind blows air

over Lake Ontario, picking up moisture and then discharging it as snow over central New York. One day, while watching a report on lake-effect snow, the weather forecaster referred to it as a “lake-effect snow machine.” Then, I heard a national weather forecaster use this term to describe the lake-effect snow that fell on Erie, Pennsylvania. Then, during the nor’easter a few weeks ago, several different media companies referred to it as a “bomb,” which also struck me as unusual. The words “machine” and “bomb” seem unsuitable to describe something as natural as lake-effect snow.

But lake-effect snow is a natural process; it exists regardless of man. The forecaster could have said there was “an intense band of lakeeffect snow,” “an exceptional amount of snow” or even simply, “lake-effect snow.” It would entail the same meaning. By attributing mechanical qualities to lake-effect snow, the media is declaring that there is no possible way that nature could be this efficient — only a machine could. Yet, we forget that there are very efficient, wholly organic processes, such as the energy that a plant stores from the sun. Mechanical terms don’t

always belong in certain areas of our life. If we do not define the boundaries of usage with these words, we are subscribing to a specific way of thinking that limits our thoughts and condenses our worldview. A similar limit on thinking occurs when terms like “bomb” are used. When you are watching or reading the news, your mind subconsciously waits for words such as “bomb,” “shooting” and “Trump.” These words are buzzwords. When your brain spots these words it automatically focuses your attention, and it triggers a preconscious emotional reaction.

We are being conditioned to subconsciously ignore the rest of the news story, and we are not objectively thinking about the news itself. We already have feelings that stem from these buzzwords that are waiting to be expressed, rather than created, when we see the event. This reaction is shown with titles of articles, especially in the mainstream news. The titles are written to subconsciously hook you into reading or watching them, and if you look at any news website right now, I guarantee that the subject of at least one, if not more, of the articles is “Trump” because his

name has become a buzzword. His name, for some, creates instantaneous anger and for others, instantaneous defense — regardless of what the rest of the article says. If we passively accept these terms into our lives, we are allowing our thoughts to be limited. But if we are conscious of these terms and think critically about their context, we reduce their ability to limit our thoughts. — Joshua Hummell is a senior double-majoring in classical and Near Eastern studies and history.

ARTS & CULTURE Finding contemporary sounds in classical music The Contemporaneous Ensemble is a chamber orchestra based in New York City that will perform on campus on Thursday. They will perform work by student composers from Binghamton University.

Provided by Contemporaneous

Contemporaneous to perform original student compositions on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Noah Broch Contributing Writer Some Binghamton University music students will have the opportunity of a lifetime this Thursday: to have their original compositions performed by professionals. The BU music department will be hosting the worldrenowned Contemporaneous ensemble on Thursday, Jan. 24 in the Casadesus Recital Hall. Contemporaneous, a 21-person ensemble led by co-artistic directors Dylan Mattingly and David Bloom, who is also the conductor, will be performing new works by Iranian composer

Anahita Abbasi and American composer Philip Glass, as well as original compositions by BU undergraduate and graduate students. Contemporaneous has gained quite a bit of attention in the world of orchestral music. The New York Times published a feature on Contemporaneous in 2016, and the ensemble has performed at a wide range of venues including Lincoln Center, Park Avenue Armory, and (Le) Poisson Rouge. Their debut album “Stream of Stars - Music of Dylan Mattingly,” has been played on the radio internationally, including on WNYC’s “New Sounds” and WRTI’s “Now is the Time.”

Bloom and his peers founded the group during their time at Bard College. The ensemble was created with the goal of promoting and performing the most exciting music of the present moment. With a passionate emphasis on educating other musicians, Contemporaneous travels to colleges and universities to practice and perform the original compositions of students studying in the music departments there, bringing to life the music of now. “The music that students here at BU are creating is so vital to the present moment and that is the music that excites us the most,” Bloom said. “It’s why we

do what we do.” Fourteen BU students were selected to send original compositions to Bloom and his ensemble. After rehearsing the selected compositions, Contemporaneous musicians traveled to Binghamton to work alongside the students in order to achieve the vision that those students had in mind for each of their works. “They are reacting to how we are performing their music and saying ’Oh okay, this is different than I expected, can we try it this way or that way?’” Bloom said. “It’s become a very close musical relationship.” For Bloom, working with BU students is reminiscent of his

college days as a music student at Bard. He said he is constantly inspired by their determination and novel approach to composing music. “Contemporaneous started performing when we were the age of some of the composers that we are working with at [BU],” Bloom said. “The connections we made then and the musical partnerships we forged eight years ago are the most important ones to the ensemble in all of our respective musical lives.” When Bloom is not conducting the ensemble, he works with well-known classical composers including Donnacha Dennehy, Lucy Dhegrae and Michael Gordon, and frequently

works with artists outside of the classical world like David Byrne, Kimbra and Courtney Love. Though the ensemble frequently travels to different locations, Bloom said that their music will continue to be innovative and unifying — regardless of where they are performing. “The place we’re in and the music we’re making at each present moment is the most important music that we’ve ever played,” Bloom said. “We bring our all to everything that we do.” The Contemporaneous ensemble will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25 in Casadesus Recital Hall.

From study hall to stage, Dear Apollo rocks

In band, childhood friends produce music together — even when they are miles apart Marcus Budashewitz Arts & Culture

Provided by Dear Apollo Dear Apollo, a central New York-based indie rock band, released its eponymous debut extended play in November 2017. The album was recorded and shared on Dropbox while the members of the band were in different cities.

It seems impossible for a music group to create an entire album without spending a second of time together, but Dear Apollo, a central New York outfit, did just that. “Recording separately gave us complete creative freedom to explore ideas that, honestly, sometimes didn’t pan out,” BU alumnus Ben Robinson, ‘11, wrote in an email. “But when they did, they propelled the song to the next level.” The band features Robinson and Anthony Dicembre, who both contribute guitar, vocals and bass, while Robinson adds piano and banjo as well. The two grew up in Owego, New York, but haven’t lived in the same city since college. Robinson graduated from Binghamton University in fall 2011 with a master’s of public administration. With Dicembre in Buffalo and Robinson in Binghamton, they

recorded their self-titled debut extended play, or EP, — which was released in November 2017 — by using the same recording software as each other and sharing their work via Dropbox. The two artists have been collaborating since their early teen years, and the fact that their musical aspirations have gone from drawing band logos during study hall to releasing an EP is a testament to their connection. “Because of our history together we have a lot of trust in each other’s vision,” Robinson wrote. “We are comfortable enough telling each other when something isn’t working.” The internet has changed the music recording game and, according to Robinson, you no longer need to catch the ear of a big-name music producer to achieve renown. “Anyone with the desire to make music can have an outlet,” Robinson wrote. Still, the technology

that provided for the band’s collaboration, Dropbox, came with its own challenges. “Our files would get so big that our computers would choke on them and run slow, or we would lose saved work,” Robinson wrote. “One of our fears, procedurally, was that the process would be too far removed and we would have trouble relating the emotion to the tracks,” Dicembre wrote in an email. The program worked well for most of the production, and when it didn’t, Robinson and Dicembre practiced to overcome those moments. Dear Apollo’s music is smooth and melodic, calling on a ‘90s grunge influence while replacing muddy power chords with synth and electric piano. “We appreciate good lyrics and harmonies from bands like The Shins and The Avett Brothers,” Robinson wrote. “You can also see some of the mood and sound being pulled from two of our favorite bands, The National and Radiohead.”

The authenticity in their songwriting is palpable, and beautifully layered vocals on tracks like “Parachute” and “Your Way” make it hard to believe they weren’t together when recording. Upbeat percussion and catchy riffs combine with emotional lyrics on the song “Indestructible,” displaying an impressive duality in Dear Apollo’s sound. Dear Apollo has gained traction locally with a feature on Ithaca. com and a segment for The Ithaca Voice’s Bedhead Sessions — a series dedicated to highlighting Ithaca’s thriving alternative scene. The indie band has also garnered attention from journalists in places as far away as the U.K. and Spain. “We put a lot of time into creating our first EP and it is something we are very excited to share now that it’s complete,” Robinson wrote. “But in a lot of ways we are already looking to the future and looking to build on what we have created.”

Late Nite to host Sexapalooza — hot dogs included Saturday's event will feature sexy trivia, sex toy giveaways and a screening of 'Easy A' John-Paul Keblinski Contributing Writer This Saturday, Late Nite Binghamton’s Sexapalooza will present a rare opportunity to publicly discuss student sexuality. Dillon Deffinbaugh, campus activities program coordinator for Late Nite Binghamton, described the original idea for the event as a comedic lecture titled “I Love Female Orgasms.” Although the lecture format was dropped, the Late Nite board moved forward with bringing an event about healthy, positive sex to campus. Activities will include Sex Toy Bingo, where students

will have the chance to win over $300 in sex toys and other sex-related prizes, while also being educated about them. Sexy Trivia and a showing of the film “Easy A” will also be on the schedule, plus other chances to win prizes. Binghamton Hots, owned by BU alumnus David Whalen, ‘05, will be providing a hot dog and nacho bar. Deffinbaugh said he hopes that the event will provide a healthy setting for discussion. “We hope students will feel comfortable engaging in discussion around the topic of sexuality in a positive way,” he said. Students’ reactions to the announcement of the

event ranged from positive to negative, with some students seeming to be enthusiastic and others having a lessthan-thrilled reaction. Dillon Savino, a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said he plans to attend the event. “I think it’s a good opportunity to learn something new — I don’t think I’ve ever seen an event like this before,” Savino said. “I love learning new things and this is the kind of topic you can’t exactly take classes on.” However, Jacob Coons, an undeclared freshman, said he was ambivalent. “I’m not sure this is

the kind of event I want to see on campus,” Coons said. “Colleges are already oversexed, I don’t see why we need more of this stuff.” Brandon Bologna, a sound technician for Late Nite and a junior majoring in nursing, said he is excited for the event. Although he won’t be working the event, he will be attending. “I would hope that everyone in attendance comes with a mature and positive attitude because it’s just supposed to be a fun time to promote healthy sex lives,” he said. The event will take place this Saturday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. in the University Union.

Pipe Dream's best picture picks

Emily Kaufman Opinions Editor

On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 90th Academy Awards. The Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 4, and from “Call Me By Your Name,” to “Lady Bird,” to “Get Out,” there are some incredible films out this season. The critics have made their picks, and now Pipe Dream editors weigh in: Which film deserves the Oscar for Best Motion Picture?

“’Call Me by Your Name,’ because it’s beautiful and takes place in northern Italy and the acting is wonderful. It just was great.”

Grace Palumbo

Kara Brown

Shauna Bahssin

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Managing Editor

“’Call Me By Your Name’ gets my vote because Timothée Chalamet blew it out of the water, and he and Armie Hammer had amazing chemistry. Also, it was set in northern Italy which was amazingly gorgeous and impressive —10/10 I want to spend the summer in northern Italy too.”

”I’m hoping that ‘Get Out’ will win, and not just because it’s the only one of the nominated movies I’ve seen. It’s an intelligent movie with a riveting plot and is an amazing example of black excellence. I’m so excited to see what’s next from Jordan Peele.”

“’Call Me By Your Name.’ No movie has ever made me so emotional. I think the subtleties of the acting make the movie, and I hope the Academy also appreciates the gorgeous sets and the film’s influence from classical art history.”

Georgia Westbrook

Noah Bressner

Arts & Culture Editor ”Some of the lines in ‘Lady Bird’ hit me so hard, and I loved the way it captured so many familiar emotions without the cliches of many other coming-of-age movies.”

Alana Epstein Digital Editor “’Lady Bird!’ It was such a relatable but unique storyline and movies rarely show a real emotional mother-daughter relationship, but it did so beautifully.”

Editor-in-Chief ’Get Out’ — rarely does a movie so successfully combine elements of both horror and humor.”

Amy Donovan

Sasha Hupka

Assistant News Editor

“I really hope ‘Lady Bird’ wins best picture because I think it portrays a really raw and relatable depiction of mother-daughter relationships that hasn’t really been shown before. Also, the depiction of moody high school boys is so painfully accurate it deserves an award.”

“’The Post’ is timely and offers fascinating insight into the tumultuous world of journalism and politics in the early 1970s. With flawless acting, an engaging plot line and a spotlight on feminist issues, ‘The Post’ is a great movie with powerful connections to our modern world.”

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OPINIONS FFUN UN Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October January October April 3,25, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2018 2017

Smart-Ass

Nate Walker Ridding Toxins

Sudoku

Annabeth Sloan

By The Mepham Group

Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to the Monday's puzzle

Let It Slide Student Loans

Nate Walker Shantel Allison

1/25/18

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 25, 2018

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle 1 4 9 13 15 16 17

Work Harv, Play Harv

Nate Walker

18 19 20 22 23 24 26 29 34 35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 51 56 57 58 60 61 62 63 64 65

ACROSS Gamble Squabble Leave out Exposed Live and __; profit from experience Apple’s center __ of the matter; main point T-shirt size BPOE folks 4 months ago In case Journals Sticky stuff Be against Inkjet machines Day or Roberts Item in a first aid kit Groove Try to lose Pig out Member of South Africa’s largest ethnic group Suffix for count or poet Riders’ fees __ out; eradicated Echoes Measly; trivial Ancient Fling Actor Everett Divide and distribute “__ Out the Barrel” Approaches Skating rink shape Competent Racket Actress __ Campbell Lads Mountains of South America Deli loaf

DOWN 1 UK TV network

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

2 All __; listening 3 Factual 4 Assert without proof 5 Enlarges a hole 6 Clothing 7 Egg on 8 Liven up 9 Spotted wildcat 10 Beauty mark 11 Irritates 12 Quiz 14 Take advantage of 21 Throw 25 Afternoon hour 26 More bizarre 27 Self-confidence 28 Squeeze 29 Window pieces 30 Carpets 31 Burst 32 Measuring stick 33 Hit the books 35 Encircle with a band 38 Colorful scarf 39 Immeasurably large number

41 Suffix for joy or sorrow 42 Reason to buy Compound W 44 Great amount 45 Handbags 47 Steed 48 Ornery person 49 Vagabond

50 Actress Sheedy 52 Lowly laborer 53 __ in full; no longer owing 54 Take __; assume control 55 Shade of blue 59 Marvin or Iacocca

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Pro Bowl week Women's basketball cruises past UMBC James records double-double on ceremonial evening lacks interest

NFL needs to discover new ways to entertain fans Yedidya Naiman

Pipe Dream Sports

Four of the most popular sports in the United States — baseball, basketball, football and hockey — have some form of an all-star game. The MLB All-Star Game normally occurs halfway through the season and serves as a break for all 30 teams during the long 162-game season. Additionally, the MLB AllStar Game serves a purpose apart from showmanship. The winner of the game held between the American and National leagues, up until the 2017 season, gained home-field advantage in the World Series. While this is no longer true, it added some incentive for the players to actually try in the game. Similar to the MLB, the NBA All-Star Game is also held near the middle of the 82-game season. While the NBA All-Star Game is not really taken that seriously, with defense rarely actually played, it displays the truly elite players facing off in a pickup-style game. The NHL also has its all-star game halfway through its 82-game season. Not only does this serve as a midseason break for the players, but all the profits from the NHL All-Star Game go to the players’ pensions. So what exactly is the point of the NFL Pro Bowl? Each team only plays 16 games per season, each has a bye week built into their schedule and it isn’t as though the game is held between weeks eight and nine as another break. The game is held the week before the Super Bowl, and anyone who has ever watched the Pro Bowl knows that the game is not taken seriously at all. Additionally, football is one of the most dangerous sports, and while this may be the reason players don’t really take it seriously, injuries still happen. For instance, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees dislocated his elbow in the 2007 Pro Bowl, and while he clearly has turned into an elite quarterback of his era, an elbow injury can end careers. Another injury occurred in events leading up to the 1999 Pro Bowl, when then-New England Patriots rookie running back Robert Edwards blew out his knee and was unable to play for another four years, never returning to his former prestige. While the MLB overall, and more specifically the MLB All-Star

Game, has been struggling with viewership, both the NBA and the NHL have had upticks in viewership for their respective all-star games. The NFL, on the other hand, has seen a steady decline in Pro Bowl viewership since 2011. Despite an attempt to revamp the game in 2014 by having the teams selected by alltime great players, viewership has fallen annually from 13.4 million in 2011 to just 7.4 million in 2017, less than 10 percent of the viewership of the Super Bowl. So once again I ask, what is the point of the Pro Bowl? With fans becoming less and less interested in watching it each year, it seems hard to find a good reason to keep this tradition going. Additionally, since 2010, when the game was moved from the week after the Super Bowl to the week before it, players on teams in the Super Bowl have been barred from participating due to fear of injury. Many players decline their invites to the game for a variety of reasons such as potential injury, or simply having no desire to play in the game. The past two years have had 45 and 37 players decline invites, respectively, as opposed to an average of just 17 players declining from 1998 to 2014, as per Elias Sports Bureau. So who likes the Pro Bowl? Clearly the fans don’t. It would seem as though the players don’t either. So the only other option I can see is that the NFL itself gains something from it. However, that would be wrong, according to former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth in USA Today. “Roger [Goodell] was very serious about potentially canceling the Pro Bowl because apparently it’s very expensive and isn’t of a ton of value to them,” Foxworth wrote. He also went on to say that there were some players who “said they loved it and they want to be there.” Some players say that they love the game and want to be there, but more and more are also declining invitations to actually go. This results in a game that doesn’t have the best players in it and that no one really cares about. So what’s the solution here? I see two paths. One option would be that the NFL and the NFL Players Association cut their losses and agree to just get rid of the Pro Bowl. The other option would be to replace the game with some sort of skills competition held as the main event. Either way, the Pro Bowl needs to go.

Binghamton Athletic Department Senior center Alyssa James was honored before Wednesday night’s game against UMBC for breaking both the America East Conference and the Binghamton program records for all-time blocks.

Evan Cole Assistant Sports Editor

With the third quarter winding down, and the Binghamton women’s basketball team up 16 on UMBC, senior center Alyssa James caught the ball at the top of the key and took a running hook from the elbow. Taking a shot that is not normally in her arsenal, James drained the runner to extend the Bearcats’ lead, exemplifying the success it saw in a 30-point rout of UMBC (2-18, 1-6 America East), claiming victory, 81-51. “I think I was just a lot stronger in the post with the ball,” James said. “My teammates did a great job of getting it to the post.” Following a win over UMass Lowell on Sunday, Wednesday’s win marked Binghamton’s second consecutive win by 30 points. In a night that featured a lack of scoring from senior guard Imani Watkins for most of the night, James and sophomore guard Kai Moon combined for 42 points to

lead the team’s offense. James was honored before the game for breaking the all-time blocks record in both Binghamton (137, 4-3 AE) and AE history. “When your top scorer only has three points in the first half, and you’re still winning, I think it’s a good day,” said BU head coach Linda Cimino. “It just shows you how deep we are … It was a great team win.” Despite the lopsided result, the game’s first half was tightly contested, mainly due to UMBC senior forward Lakiah Sims. Her ability to distribute out of the high posts gave the Retrievers a few open layups, as Sims contributed five points, four rebounds and three assists in the game’s first 20 minutes. Binghamton’s adjustment to its defense at halftime was key to slowing Sims down and blowing the game open. “We made an adjustment to how we defended in our zone,” Cimino said. “[Associate head coach Leah] Bowers did a great job drawing up the play at

halftime and spelling it out to the players how we’re gonna defend it. [Sims] is a great player. In our scouting report, we talked about how good of a passer she was, and she definitely lived up to that today.” Binghamton dominated the second half, outscoring the Retrievers 44-20 in the half. Moon and James continued to thwart UMBC on both ends of the court. Moon finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and seven steals. James recorded another double-double, ending with 22 points and 11 boards. The Bearcats were in complete control of the game, leading by double digits for most of the second half. “We did a great job getting the ball inside to [James] … and that was our game plan,” Cimino said. “Our guards did a good job of getting her in [position], and she was able to convert and score for us … We stuck to the game plan, and I was happy to do that.” Moon’s poise against the Retrievers was key to facilitating

the offense and tightening BU’s perimeter defense. Able to create opportunities both for herself and teammates, Moon was also efficient in her performance, shooting five-for-seven from the field and eight-for-10 from the foul line while committing zero turnovers. “[Moon]’s a phenomenal player,” Cimino said. “She brings so much personality to the program. People are talking about how we’re gonna replace Imani next year, and it won’t be easy. We’re gonna be relying a lot on [Moon] next year.” After earning their second consecutive convincing victory, the Bearcats will head on the road to face a New Hampshire team that they’ve already lost to this season. “We have a huge game this weekend,” Cimino said. “We gotta redeem ourselves. We had a bad loss here to New Hampshire.” Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday from the Lundholm Gym in Durham, New Hampshire.

BU falls to UMBC, drops third consecutive America East game Binghamton falls to 1-6 in America East standings despite Muhammad's second-half scoring run Edward Aaron Pipe Dream Sports

Jonathan Flores/Pipe Dream Photographer Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad logged 11 points in the men’s basketball team’s loss to UMBC on Wednesday night.

The Binghamton men’s basketball team continued its disappointing start to conference play with a 69-57 loss to the UMBC Retrievers on Wednesday night. Entering the game with a twogame losing streak, the Bearcats (10-12, 1-6 America East) were unable to hold on to a shortlived lead, forcing the team to fight from behind for much of the match. BU started the first half with a layup by junior forward Thomas Bruce to take a 2-0 lead. Eleven minutes into the half, redshirt freshman guard Tyler Stewart hit a jumper to give the Bearcats a 15-12 lead, but just before that, a turning point occurred for the Retrievers (14-8, 4-2 AE). With a 13-10 lead, Bruce, BU’s best defensive player, com-

mitted his third foul of the game, forcing head coach Tommy Dempsey to pull him for the remainder of the half. The Retrievers made their two free throws and began to take over the game. The Retrievers went on a 17-0 run, lasting until there was just 4 1/2 minutes left on the clock and putting them firmly in command with a 29-15 lead. UMBC ultimately took a 36-18 advantage into the locker room at halftime, and the Bearcats were forced to rethink their approach to the game during the break. Junior guard J.C. Show, potentially dealing with the effects of the injury that kept him out during last season’s conference play, left the match with just over 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half. He would not return until late in the second half, finishing with just three points, his lowest total of the season. UMBC came out firing in

the second half, extending its edge to 40-20. Despite the large deficit, BU did not show signs of defeat. With 12 minutes remaining on the clock, sophomore guard Fard Muhammad, who entered the game off of the bench, stole the ball away from the Retrievers and sprinted down the court for a layup, helping to cut UMBC’s lead to 48-40. Muhammad followed up this sequence with a 3-pointer, extending the Bearcats’ run to 20-8. The score at that point was 48-43, with the five-point deficit the smallest for the Bearcats since early in the first half. UMBC held on to its lead for the remainder of the game, eventually winning 69-57. The Bearcats showed heart while playing from behind during much of the game, outscoring the Retrievers 39-33 in the second half. Junior guard Everson Davis

led the Bearcats in points with 14, and senior forward Willie Rodriguez had a team-high 11 rebounds. His seventh rebound made him Binghamton’s alltime rebounds leader in the program’s 17-year history, with 603 in total. Rodriguez moved past Nick Billings, who totaled 598 throughout the 2001-05 seasons, and he is currently eighth overall in Binghamton’s school history. This season’s start to conference play is eerily similar to that of last season, in which the Bearcats started with the same 1-6 record in their first seven conference matches. The team lost its final nine games and finished 12-20. Binghamton will return home to battle New Hampshire on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.